Paddle Boarding is fun, really fun for all ages.  Paddle Boards are like long surf boards that you stand on and use a very long canoe like paddle.  With another family this weekend we rented two of them from a great family owned company in the Outer Banks, Outer Banks Stand Up Paddle.  They delivered the boards right to the house we were staying in.  After 15 minutes of instruction, we were off.  We initially brought the boards to the shallow sound and it was perfect for getting the feel of the boards and great for the kids.  The adults in our group had a much harder time learning to hold their balance, although I would have to say I was the best at it :).  All of the kids were able to stand and paddle and my son loved paddling his sister and her friend all around.  It was also great fun for them to play “king of the mountain”.

We then brought the boards to the ocean.  The waves were very high and rough coming in and so we didn’t allow the kids to try them again.  Once we got past the break, the water was smooth and perfect.  We were able to easily stand and paddle, it was so quiet and the dolphins would come in very close to us.  I did make a critical mistake and I did not account for the wind at my back which pushed us very far out.  I took me just under an hour to paddle back in and days later I have muscles that hurt that I didn’t know I have, or don’t have.

All in all, it was great fun for our whole group and I can’t recommend trying it enough.  I can’t wait to do it again when we are in the crystal clear shallow waters of the Florida Keys.

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